Councillors voted Monday to continue providing Mohawk Chapel with free water and sewer service, after the city learned in 2010 the building was on the municipal system.

The extension was approved in a 10-1 recorded vote during the operations and administration committee meeting, subject to confirmation at next week's council meeting. It will see the city waive water and sewer charges for the historic chapel for its first 5,000 litres of water use.

The lone dissenting vote came from Ward 3 Coun. Dan McCreary, who said he is concerned waiving the fees will set a precedent that could see other historic sites and even residents approach the city asking for the same relief.

"There are other national historic sites in the city, there are other churches in the city," McCreary said. "If we grant this request, there will be others that come. I don't know how we make case for homeowners if we're allowing a low-water-usage client to receive their usage for free."

The chapel, which is actually on Six Nations territory, had a city fire hydrant extended to its property decades ago. At some point afterwards that water line was tapped into to provide domestic water for use inside the chapel.

Environmental services director Selvi Kongara told council the city isn't sure when that happened, but learned of the situation two years ago.

A water meter has since been installed at the chapel and the waiver discussed Monday would still charge the chapel in the months it uses more than 5,000 litres of water. The agreement also recognizes how the water line servicing the fire hydrant and domestic use runs under portions of Mohawk Road that are also in Six Nations territory.

Councillors' discussion veered into the absurd at points- some members had no problem with waiving the fees given the chapel's historic and cultural importance and as a measure of good faith between the city and Six Nations. The defence of that position at one point even included references to the Queen.

"I'm just embarrassed," Ward 1 Coun. Jan Vanderstelt said. "I wonder how her majesty would feel about this discussion."

That comment led to a gentle rebuke from McCreary, who called Vanderstelt's comments "bombast."

"Let's stick to the issues," McCreary said. "We're providing a service to an organization in exchange for no cash."